State Stories

MARCH MADNESS: 2015 Class 1A/2A Boys Basketball

March 11, 2015

March Madness rolls back into Peoria for the 20th year, as the IHSA Class 1A and Class 2A Boys Basketball State Finals take center stage this weekend at the Peoria Civic Center’s Carver Arena. The state semifinals will unfold on Friday, March 13 with the third-place and state championship games to follow on Saturday, March 14.

The March Madness Experience, an interactive basketball-fueled family fun fest located in the Peoria Civic Center exhibit halls adjacent to the arena, opens on Thursday, March 12. The Country Financial Three-Point Showdown also continues Thursday at Carver Arena, as prelims will whittle competitors down to four shooters from each class. The final four shooters from Class 1A and Class 2A will shoot for their class titles between semifinal games on Friday, with the winners returning on Saturday, March 21 for a chance to be the all-class champion King of the Hill. In addition, the March Madness Experience will also play host to the IHSA’s 12th annual state wheelchair basketball tournament on Friday and Saturday.

The games will air live on Comcast SportsNet, Comcast SportsNet+ and IHSA TV Network affiliates (click for local listings). The games will also be carried live on the internet via the NFHS Network at www.IHSA.tv, which will also stream the post-game press conferences live.

Lee Hall and Camron Smith will bring viewers the 1A action, while Dave Bernhard and IBCA Hall of Famer Mark Lindo step in to call the 2A games. Matt Rodewald will handle the hosting from the March Madness Experience, while Michelle McMahon handles the sideline duties.